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Monday 28th August - Gateshead 2-3 Frickley Athletic

A depleted Blues' side came up trumps against the odds to win 3-2 at Gateshead this afternoon. Already without Steve Robinson, Gary Marrow was also without the services of Lee Pugh, Neil Ashley and Remo Nesa (all unavailable) whilst Calum Selby missed the game through the injury sustained on Saturday against AFC Telford.

This saw three of the Reserves hastily signed on UniBond forms this morning with Andrew West, James Ascroft and Scott Turner all getting a place on the subs. bench. Adam Pollock came in at left-back with Alex Callery and Mark Ward dropping into midfield with Rob Pell coming in up front and Mark Crossfield on the right. 

A mistake straight from the kick-off almost gifted the Blues a goal within ten seconds as Michael Price could only parry the ball to Pell's feet as Richard Flynn chested it back to him but Pell's shot from an acute angle was cleared off the line. However, three minutes later a long clearance from Gary Ingham found PELL in space on the edge of the box and he coolly rolled the ball past Price from 15 yards. The home side came close after 12 minutes but Martyn Woolford cleared Kesandu Okike's effort off the line following a corner. Minutes later Callery saw his 25 yard free-kick fly straight at Price whilst a good break down the right saw Crossfield find Pell inside the box and he laid the ball back to Danny Walsh but his first time shot cleared the bar. This signalled the start of a frantic few minutes as first Richard Tracey cleared off the line from Okike, then Andrew Appleby headed over from David Southern's cross before on 23 minutes Okike headed in following another deep cross. Appleby then turned Steve Kennedy on the edge of the box before firing over but the Blues regained the lead on 33 minutes. Pollock swung over a cross from the left which evaded everyone but Callery who played the ball back across the 6 yard box for Pell whose shot was blocked but POLLOCK stole in to slam the loose ball into the net from almost on the line.

The home side looked more threatening after the break with Southern having a 20 yard free-kick saved by Ingham on 55 minutes whilst five minutes later Kennedy cleared Southern's cross off the line. Gateshead equalised for the second time on 63 minutes when Appleby burst into the box before having his low shot blocked by Ingham only for Southern to follow up to score. The Blues defence withstood a fair amount of pressure before a quick break saw Callery fire inches wide from 25 yards on 70 minutes. A minute later Salvin did likewise from 15 yards for Gateshead. Ingham tipped Southern's well placed 25 yard free-kick over the bar on 86 minutes and with the game seemingly destined to end in a draw Woolford played a great ball over the home defence to sent PELL clear to fire under Price and into the far corner of the net from 18 yards.